The Uprising (The Mamluks Saga: Episode 2) by Edward Lake

rebellion against my mother. She’s the Ruler of all Mamluks.”
    Robert narrowed his eyes. “Dalia is your mother?”
    I shook my head. “No. Emily is my mother.”
    He gradually lowered his head and looked away with a dreadful stare. “My God.”
    I studied him carefully. “You know her?”
    “Yes. Well...I knew her, a long time ago.” He looked back at me with great sorrow in his eyes. “So, she’s taken over the world.”
    I nodded. “Yes. And we must join forces to stop her.”
    Robert glanced at the others. “What do you say everybody? Are you ready to fight back?” They cheered loudly with one voice and raised their fists in the air. Robert nodded. “Count us in.”
    I smiled and looked them over with great pride. Together, we will rise.

Part Four—The Alliance

Chapter 36: Emily
    I was at the Caregivers Academy with Giedre. We were overseeing the new graduates as they came forth and gave thanks to Giedre and me. It was their final rite of passage before they could officially be considered caregivers. When Isabella came up, my heart filled with joy and I flashed a warm smile.
    Normally she would be required to kneel in this situation, but because of her baby bump she only bowed her head. “Giedre. My Ruler.”
    Giedre kindly held her hand out. “You were my finest student, Isabella. One day you will take my place as the central caregiver on Earth.”
    Isabella looked up and gave her another bow. “I am honored, Giedre.”
    Still smiling, I looked down and carefully checked her stomach. “That baby is going to come out any day now.”
    She let out a shy giggle and rubbed her belly. “Yes. I’m very excited.”
    I glanced at Giedre. “How about that? First she’s going to take your place, then she’s going to take mine.”
    Giedre nodded. “Indeed. An illustrious career awaits you, Isabella.”
    She gave us both a kind smile. ‘Thank you.”
    After the ceremony, I met up with Isabella and we flew back to my building. She was planning on meeting with Juozas, and I was scheduled to meet with London. When the ship landed, we said goodbye and went our separate ways.
    As I headed to the conference room, London sent me a private message, letting me know he was already inside. Since giving him the assignment of spying on Juozas, he hadn’t come up with much, but this time, I had a feeling things would be different.
    I arrived and found him waiting by the table. I walked over and took a seat. “What do you have?”
    London turned on his sija and pulled up a series of holographic photos. “At last I’ve discovered his ploy.” I watched closely as he clicked through the photos. “Every so often, during the middle of the night, he leaves and takes a trip to the North. Then he returns shortly after and goes back to bed. Now, for a while, I didn’t realize he was leaving—that is until I saw this.” London stopped at an image of Juozas sleeping.
    I shrugged a bit. “I don’t see anything.”
    He quickly increased the view. “Look harder, My Ruler.”
    I bent forward and narrowed my eyes. Finally, I saw it. “A hologram?”
    London nodded and grew an enthusiastic smile. “Yes. He’s been staging his sleep so that it would appear he never left.”
    I exhaled as I leaned back. “What about the tracking device in his ship? Why didn’t you just follow that?”
    “He’s probably been using another ship. And when this all began, he told me that he would be frequently sending soldiers to the North to continue the search for runaway slaves. But after all this time, still nothing. Obviously, he wasn’t sending anyone. He’s been going up there himself.”
    I nodded. “Good work, London.”
    He turned off the hologram and stood up straight. “I fear he’s aiding the slaves at some kind of refugee camp.”
    “That’s exactly what’s happening.”
    “Shall we bring him to justice?”
    I sighed deeply and folded my hands in my lap. “No. Not until his spawn is born.”
    London stepped closer.